Fender.



No. 692,!87. l Patented 1an. 28, |902.

R. SMITH. & H. W. LEONHARD.

FEN D ER. (Application med sept. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SMITH VAND HENRY W. LEONHARD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

ASSIGNORS MISSOURI.

OF ONE-THIRD TO ELLEN DANKIIOF, OF ST. LOUIS,

FENDER.

SPEIFKGATION forming `part of Letters Patent No. 692,187, dated January 28, 1902,

Application led September 21, 190];l Serial No. 76,024. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concerne Be it known that we, ROBERT SMITH and HENRY W. LEONHARD, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new. and usefulImprovement in Fenders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the arl. to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through the platform of a car, showing our improved fenderin a retracted position in full lines and in a projected position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the platform, a portion of the samebei'ng broken away to more clearly show the mechanism, this view showing the fender projected. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the winding-staff and its trip. Fig. 4 is a detailed View of themanncr of arranging the hanger-eyes in position.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in fenders of that class wherein the fender proper is normally held in a retractcd position, means being provided whereby when the fender is tripped it will shoot forward.

The objects of this invention are to simplify the construction of fenders of the class described and at the same time rendering them capable of application to existing forms of cars, the fender being cheap, easy of operation, and eective.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our improved device, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings we have shown a platform of ordinary construction,under which we have monntedourimproved fender. This platform consists of the usual side and vknee beams l and 2, respectively, the Desing-timber 3, and decking 4. Depending from this platform are hanger-eyes 5, which are formed with shoulders 6, designed to bear upon and impinge against the under face of the platform, a threaded shank from each hanger-eye eX- tending upwardly through the timbers of the platform and beingscrewed into a nut '7,w11ich is countersunk, so as to prevent it from turning during the operation of arranging the bangen eyes in position. Should the threaded end of the shank protrude above the nut, the same may be removed .by cutting it off with a cold-chisel. There are preferably four of these hanger-eyes depending from the platform, those hanger-eyes which are mounted upon the nosing-timber being longer than the rearmost eyes, whereby the frame of the fender, which is mounted in the eyes of these hangers, is normally held in an inclined or tilted position, as shown in-Fig. 1. It will also be noted that when the frame is in position the hanger-eyes cannot be turned, and consequently there is no danger or liability of their becoming loose if they are properly secured in position originally. i

S indicates the frame Of the fender, which, for the sake of lightness and cheapness is preferably composed of tubular members in the form of pipes joined together by appropriate couplings. This frame consists of-a curved forward member and a back member, the latter being preferably straight, while two intermediate members adjacent to and parallel with the end members are secured in position. It is these intermediate members which support the fender proper by said members slidingly passing through the eyes of the foremost hangers.

SiL indicates rearwardly-extending members of the frame in the form of arms which slidingly pass through the rearm ost hangers, said arms carrying spring-supports 9 at their eX- tremities, to which are attached springs 10. The forward ends of these springs are attached to supports 11, which supports are preferably made adjustable bythe use of nuts and jam-nuts, as shown.

2 indicates an eye member of the frame, to which is connected one end of a chain or cable 13, said chain or cable passing rearwardly over a pulley 14, and then forwardly around the lower end of a winding-staff 15. This winding-staff extends up through the platform, and at its upper end carries a pinion 16, with which coperates a spring-pressed latch-dog 17. This shaft has appropriate IOC bearings, and 'in addition above the pinion 16 is formed non-circular in section, so as to accommodate a crank, whereby the shaft mayA be lmanipulated and the chain wound there- -on ifor the purpose of retracting the fender. This winding-stem of the shaft is preferably so shaped that it will receive and accommodate the handle which is commonly used for operating the controller of an electric car, said handle being detachable from said controller, as is well known.

The fender is held in its retracted position by the engagement of the spring-pressed dog 17 with the pinion 16. In the event thatitis desired to cause the fender to move forward it is only necessary for the operator to disengage the spring-pressed pawl from the pinion, when springs 10 referred to will exert their energies and slide the fender in a forward direction. In this movement, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the fender moves forwardly and downwardly in an inclined direction as guided by the hanger-eyes 5.

In practice it is preferred that the forward end of the fender in its normal position will be located about six inches above the track, so that notwithstanding the fact that the fender is retracted it will still perform its function as a fender and that when the fender is projected forwardly the forward member of the frame will lie close to the ground. Should this forward member come in contact with a projection, such as a stone in the track, the fender will yield bodily, being elevated in its rearward movement until the forward member of the frame rides over the projection, after which the springs will exert their energy to again move the fender forward. The frame referred to may have panels of lattice-work netting or may be provided with slats, as is well understood.

Ve are aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of our device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The'combination with the platform of a car, of shouldered hangers depending therefrom, the shanks of said hangers passing through the platform, countersunk nuts for receiving the threaded ends of said Shanks,

and a fender slidingly mounted in said hangereyes, whereby said han ger-eyes are prevented `from turning; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a car-platform of hangereyes of unequal lengths depending therefrom, a fender-frame slidingly mounted in said hanger-eyes and being adapted to move forwardly and downwardly in an inclined direction, springs for forcing said frame forwardly, and means for retracting said frame and holding it in its retracted position; substantially as described.

3. The combination with the platform of a car, of hangers depending therefrom, a fender slidingly mounted in said hangers, springs connected at one end to the rear end of the fender, and at their other ends to adjustable supports, a chain or cable attached at one end to the fender, a winding-staff to which the other end of said chain or cable is connected and a releasing-dog for said staff; substantially as described.

4. The combination with the platform of a ear, of a fender-frame, composed of marginal and intermediate members, rearwardly-projecting arms extending from said frame, hangers through which said rearwardly-projecting arms and said intermediate members are mounted, springs connected to the rearmost ends of said arms at each side of the fender, and means for retracting said fender against the energies of said springs; substantially as described. Y

5. The combination with a car-platform, of hanger-eyes depending therefrom, a fenderframe composed of marginal and intermediate members, rearwardly-'extending arms S on said frame, said arms and said intermediate members being mounted in the hangereyes, springs at each side of the frame and attached to the rear ends of said arms, a chain or cable, a bolt around which said chain or cable passes, a winding-stad to which said chain or cable is connected, a pinion on said stai, and a locking and releasing dog coperating with said pinion; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of September, 1901.

ROBERT SMITH. HENRY IV. LEONIIARD.

Witnesses:

GEORGE BAKEWELL, RALPH KALIsH.

ICO 

